31/2 weeks intoTKR and twice now I have fallen not sure if luck or not but each time a cupboard saved me hitting the floor so bumps and bruises but able to get back to my chair. When I was in hospital un related to falls my surgeon told me to get on with things you can not damage the replacement I had to say it was the other parts of me that were the worry.!! Any thoughts on the falls guys when your home alone.
oh yes!
I got a small leather backless stool before I had my knee done, thought as it was on castors it would be easy to just roll around the kitchen.
In on my own, about two weeks post op, realised it was a bit low, so put a cushion on it.
Then put myself on it.
Oops! The stool shot one way, the cushion shot the other way, and I ended up flat on my back.
Lay there in shock for five mins, then realised I had somehow to get back up.
I now know what an upside down turtle feels like.
In the middle of the floor, nothing to hold on to.
Finally crawled on one knee?? And managed to drag myself up on the oven, the drop down door only hit me on the head once!
I never knew you could still find bruises so long after a fall😳
Sods law.
Use your walking stick for balance for the time being. Don't take any chances.
Sit down if putting washing in/out of the washer.
Keep the phone close to hand. DOn't rush to answee it or the door. If urgent they will call back.
Just reminded me of my brother in law. He once placed a cushion on top of a poliished dining table in ordeer to add height so he could strip the ceiling. The cushion just slid away from underneath him and he ended p sitting on the floor looking like Any Capp. My sister full of sympathy looked at him and said 'You daft b.........
Hope this gets past the moderator.
Once my brother fallen down the stair and I call the doctor.Then he rest for 14days.
Well there are certainly exceptions to the rule as scrannel has shown, but most of us need to take our time. We all had tkr for various reasons and our physical conditions were different. I had my double tkr 10 years after my oa started and was not in the best shape. But I took my time and actually kept up and did better than most people with a single tkr. listen to your body and excercise to strengthen muscles. Look on YouTube for ways to get up off floor. Also great videos for excercises and tips as you progress. Good luck!
Scrannel. you seem to be super man compared to the rest of us. Driving like so many of us were told is not allowed for 6 weeks or is covered by your insurance, and even at 6 weeks I found diffidult. As for pain relief, I have quite a high painthreshold but COULD not have done without meds .We all want this operation to work and will do our physio and work our knee as it is vital for our recovery. It does not matter how quick you recover. It is not a race...which if it was you would win but it is our own individual challenge to reciver from at our own rate. Sorry but I feel peole reading your posts will think they should be able to or should be doing more earlier than they should.
Well said Roma, we all recover at our own rate and get there x
Hear, hear!
Wish I could be young again though and fancy free.
Never mind.
I just feel -- after going through this and watching others who did -- we underestimate our abilities. At least consider reducing the heavy meds and suppliment with over the counter. Is this a race? With yourself, maybe? I'm now 69. 7 months ago had level 8 lumbar fusion -- ten hour surgery. At 6 months was back on my mountain bike and my motorcycle. We have this tiny bit of life given us; like to spend as little of it as possible on my back watching Croc vs. Hippo reruns on Discovery Channel.
I agree with you.
There are definitely very valid reasons on both sides about the length of time spent getting over illnesses, conditions, procedures. It helps to hear from both sides of the argument if you see what I mean.
I entirely agree with your comments on time spending on your back watching re runs odf whatever. I feel exactly the same way. P....... off.
I wish that our bodies stayed young and healthy. Are u in US?
After considering I am replying again. I think I jumped in too quickly with my response to you scrannel so sorry.
I am in the UK and the weather is horrible. Summer my foot.
Dark, miserable rainy weather.
My body knows when the weather is damp etc.
Which is level 8 Scrannel ?
Laura, I hope you are able to laugh about this now. I remember the first time I had to get low to get to the back of a cupboard in the kitchen. Getting down was not so bad. I hadn't even thought about how I was going to get up. I'd had both knees replaced at the same time and have never had a lot of upper body strength. First there was a bit of panic, then I just started laughing that my roommate would come home to find me sleeping on the kitchen floor. Determination won out and I moved onto my stomach, curled my toes under and using my arms I just started pushing up until I was in some sort of yoga position with my behind straight up. Then I managed to walk my legs out and using my hands I walked them in towards my spread legs and was able to get up. It's no wonder I eventually suffered an umbilical hernia (which is what brought me to this site). Let's just say that I learned quickly that I needed to sthrengthen my upper body.
Scrannel, we aren't all as fortunate as you. Even with my bilateral TKR at age 50 didn't move nearly that fast. I was in the hospital for 7 days, and wasn't able to drive for 6 weeks. I couldn't sit on my sofa for a long time and even then was resigned to the matching chairs that had arms to help me lift out. Please don't be so quick to judge.
Falling is indeed scary. I used a walker the first couple weeks and my doctor had challenged me to come visit his office at 4 weeks without it. Slow steps with the cane in my apartment got me there. I continued using the cane when I went out, especially when there were a lot of people involved. I was living in India at the time and the sheer number of people rushing around could be a little overwhelming. Until you are feeling stable and have gained the muscles mass that you need to hold you steady and keep you up, have one handy.
When my grandma had her knees replaced, she was so terrified of falling she never regained her leg strength and stayed in a wheelchair until she died. You don't want that to be you. Good Luck.
Mo
I agree getting off heavy meds is vital. I was on them for 6 mths before surgery and got off them by three weeks post op, I just was on co-codamol and ipbrufen after that and only take them ocasionally now. I am 50 and do want my life back to how it was 6 years ago. I am getting there but definately could not do what you did so early. i am not ready for dattime boring tv yet. I have too much life to live yet and a job to do.
hi Delirious, I'm in UK too and agree the weather is awful, just want to get out walking but in pouring rain!!!!! spending time clearing cupboards out instead...boring
Hi there poor you we all have a story to tell don't we this TKR isn't easy is it I wish you well
yes yes thought I did all that but sometimes you just forget for a mo don't but thanks
well how rude are you I had fallen hence wanting to get to the chair to get over it don't you have chairs in your house PLUS I have other major health problems if you have nothing constructive to say please don't comment there's plenty of lovely and helpful people on here